30th Annual Shriners Toy Run

The major organizer and motorcycle advocacy group for the event is ABATE and this year marks 30 years.

The weather was dry, but it was cold. In fact, the temp gauge registered a new low (28 degrees) on the motorcycle. As I left the neighborhood I noticed leaving tire tracks on the frost covered asphalt. I met up with the posse for breakfast and the main roads had already received a quick spray of glycol-based de-icers on the overpasses and bridges. By the time we finished breakfast and drove toward the Tri-Met parking lot the frost had mostly evaporated.

This year’s turnout was nearly as large as last which brought out more than 6,000 riders. But, more importantly it’s a lot of toys collected for sick kids. The Toy Run brings together Harleys, Hondas, clubbers, and even the occasional Vespa. The ABATE members held a motorcycle raffle to help raise money for the hospital and shortly after noon the police escorted riders followed a Tri-Met bus full of toys to the Shriners Hospital.

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The ABATE/Shriners Toy Run has been in existence since December 1980. There were five bikes and a pickup truck the very first year. At that time, the Shriners hospital was on SE 82nd and Sandy Blvd. In 1984 we started delivering toys to the new hospital on the hill. As the years went on the run had gotten much bigger with more than 1,500 motorcycles (2,000 people) showing up in 1999 to support the kids and Uncle Bob Jackson. 1999 was the year Uncle Bob passed away. The media did a wonderful job of expressing Uncle Bob’s generous heart and his desire to see the kids one last Christmas. Bob’s illness would not allow him to see the kids again that year, however. The news of his illness and his desire to attend the Toy Run generated a huge amount of interest in the city for riders to help the kids.
Rider participation in the Toy Run has reached new heights each year since then. On Dec. 6, 2008, 6,450 motorcyles were counted. We have had the honorable Mayor Bud Clark, Senator Randy Leonard, and Commissioner Lonnie Roberts as Grand Marshals. The Harley Owner’s Group for the last few years has done a wonderful job of providing the marshalling for the parade. The Toy Run is a full parade with Police escort, etc. The Toy Run is managed by committee with representatives from the two Portland chapters of ABATE (Southeast & Twin Rivers). Administrative costs are very low (we do have to buy a parade permit, license, tickets, insurance, etc.) with the lion’s share of the money going to the kids. We try to get as much of the costs donated as possible. Columbia Harley Davidson provides us the motorcycle that we raffle at minimal cost.
The Toy Run is funded by the raffle of a brand new Harley Davidson motorcycle, generous donations through the year and benefits, such as the Musicians Toy Run Benefit. 2002 marks the year of our 10th bike being raffled for the kids. As of 2006, we added two more prizes, which makes for a total of four significant prizes, for those who buy tickets. Over the years, we have spent more than $280,000 on wheelchairs, communication devices, computers, braces, van conversions, and special bikes. The equipment that we are able to buy for the kids gives them freedom we take for granted. A new wheelchair for a child that doesn’t have one, or any piece of equipment that allows a child to get from place to place with greater ease is liberating. The equipment provided for the kids is also financially liberating for the parents or guardians of these children. A power wheelchair can cost as much as $10,000. This last year we were able to provide $30,000 in equipment that consisted of two power wheelchairs ($16,000), a communication device ($7,000), and three manual wheelchairs ($7,000).
The Toy Run is our labor of love for the kids of the Shriners Hospital. We look forward to presenting the kids with their equipment each year. Our reward is their smile.

Thank you all and a special thank you to the S.E. Portland Chapter and the Twin Rivers Chapter of A.B.A.T.E. of Oregon. Thank you very much!